Martinez shines, Caminero stays scorching as Rays win 9th straight

HOUSTON – When Kevin Cash hands the ball to Nick Martinez every five days, the Rays' skipper knows what he’s going to get.

“I feel like Nick’s locked in from pitch 1 to pitch 100, or whatever he gives us,” Cash said prior to Martinez’s Friday night start in Houston.

The 35-year-old, who is eyeing the first All-Star Game nod of his nine-year big league career, navigated the Astros' lineup well early in Tampa Bay's 3-1 win on Friday night at Daikin Park, setting down 10 of the first 14 batters faced in his 17th start of the year.

“Just the pitches -- he's got a sinker, he's got a four-seam, the changeup is almost 20 mph different than his fastball. It just keeps you off balance,” Astros manager Joe Espada said about Martinez. “We've seen him before. He's done that before against us and we couldn't get much going offensively against him or any of their guys."

Martinez, who didn’t give up a hit until Cam Smith's fourth-inning liner to right field, surrendered just one run on Yordan Alvarez's 27th home run of the season while walking one and striking out three over 5 1/3 innings in the Rays' ninth straight win.

“Nick Martinez was pretty masterful,” Cash said. “Even when he fell behind some guys, he made some big pitches.”

Martinez has allowed three or fewer runs in 16 of his 17 starts. In 10 of those starts, he allowed one or fewer.

"I’ve been feeling good,” Martinez said. “I’ve been attacking the zone. Although, tonight I didn’t do so great with my first-pitch strikes. Just one of those days I was fighting myself mechanically, the rhythm of my mechanics wasn’t great. But it was just one of those days where you just had to compete.

“I was able to compete today and give us a chance to win.”

With Friday’s performance, Martinez dropped his ERA to 2.12 on the road through eight starts, with 27 strikeouts and just 11 runs surrendered in 46 2/3 innings.

“He’s been unbelievable,” June American League Pitcher of the Month Drew Rasmussen said of Martinez before the game. “He’s been absolutely incredible, not just his ability to limit runs, but the depth he gives us and just the quality he gives us every five days have been huge for this group.”

While Martinez was shoving on the mound, Junior Caminero continued his home run barrage at the plate.

In the seventh inning, Caminero hit a tiebreaking home run to left field off of Steven Okert to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead.

“Big home run,” Cash said. “Big moment for us, for sure. Every time we come in here, it feels like it’s a well-pitched ballgame by both clubs. We had our hands full and Junior picked us up.”

The 22-year-old has homered in seven of his last eight games dating back to June 25, when he hit three against Kansas City. 10 of his 25 home runs have come during this stretch.

“I’m not looking for a home run, I’m looking to put it in play,” Caminero said. “Just help my team … Ten games, ten homers, pretty good.”

The Rays' remaining runs came off the bat of No. 9 hitter Nick Fortes, who hit a Statcast-projected 391-foot solo homer off the signage above the Rays bullpen in the sixth inning before lining a two-out RBI double in the eighth just feet below where his home run had landed.

“Any time I can contribute with the bat is a good thing,” Fortes said. “To be able to plate two runs tonight felt really good.”

The Rays' bullpen took over once Martinez’s night was done, with Kevin Kelly, Casey Legumina and Bryan Baker combining for 3 2/3 scoreless innings to seal the victory. Baker registered his 23rd save in 26 opportunities.

“Really pleased with the guys,” Cash said. “I think it’s surrounded by our pitching. Started off by that and preventing runs. But we’re getting some big hits, we separated a couple of games, but the timely hitting has been right on point.”